Sunken Treasure and Guests on the Wing

Northern Banks of the Tornmawr, afternoon

Summer isn't quite done with Alexandria yet, and the sun continues to shine brightly down on the city. It's not the soul-crushing heat of prior months, but people are still going around in light garments, and the cloaks haven't been unstowed from the closets yet. There's a couple folks on the banks of the river, enjoying the good weather, and at a bench there's... two guards?

Yes. Two guards, quietly chatting, standing next to the bench, upon which is a neat pile of clothing and a pair of black boots with silver buckles. They keep looking out at the river, though one has a faintly anxious demeanor, as if not sure if everything is all right with the world.

The Goblin looks sleepy, her pace relatively sedate. The guards are given a sleepy nod, and faint smile. Her eyebrows raise up at the neat pile of clothing and boots with silver buckles.

Simony pauses, peering at one of the guards, and then out into the rivers. A wee hand goes up to smack her forehead.

"Lord Lupecyll-Atlon gone for a swim, has he?", she wonders of the guard on the left. "Silly man." Turning, the Goblin makes as if to wait.

A rust red and white egalrin woman is busy sitting away some distance on her haunches, staring at the ripples in the water on the river with a tiny white thrush held in the palm of her hand. It chitters something quietly to the egalrin, her murmuring back, "... yes, I see it too."

"No you buffoon. That's the boat upstream," the bird twitters.

She snickers, shaking her head and looking off down towards the guards. A brow quirks, her not able to hear the conversation, but spying the clothes, the guards, Simony, and then looks out to the river.

One of the guards jerks upright as Simony approaches. "We can neither confirm nor--" He cuts off as the other sighs, and elbows him gently. "Sorry, miss. He's new." This other guard has a shock of curly red hair and freckles, and looks a bit young, but canny. "Corporal Hieronymous Smithson. Lord Lupecyll-Atlon's assisted in river recovery operations before, so when something came up, well... we asked nicely. We're just waiting for a signal..."

The new guard suddenly points out, where a cork bobber with a bright bit of red cloth has suddenly popped to the surface, near the middle of the river close to the bridge. "Looks like he found it, too!"

In scanning the river beyond, the Goblin catches a hint of red in her peripheral vision, and she makes a pleased gasp, cheerfully waving to Slixvah and her familiar. "Hiiiiii!"

The guard replying has her head snapping back, and she snorts. "I've worked with the man, and for the man, and recognize his boots." She gestures to the neatly arranged boots. Giggling, she sighs, "He's walking along the bottom of the river recovering some thingamabob that's fallen in. I hope the money's worth it." Simony gasps again at the sudden pop of a red cloth. "Do you need to go in a help him...?"

Slixvah gives the little bird a nudge with her beak before the thrush flutters off to rest in a nook on the bridge. She still can't hear what's going on, but she's able to put the pieces together. Someone's in the river gathering things. Probably magically. Eagle eyes spy the bobber, and she gets to her feet, lazily ambling on over as a wing gives a return wave to Simony. "Suh, gal. Officers," she hums, looking over the clothes, then to the river.

Hieronymous shakes his head. "He said if he couldn't lift it, he'd tie a rope to it with that on the end so we could find it again. He wasn't sure if he could pull it free with his spells and figured 'better safe than sorry'." His partner is making notes as well, just in case, on the bobber's location and distance.

Soon enough, there's ripples in the water, and Telamon comes walking up out of the river onto the banks. Of course, he's soaking wet, hair slicked back and dressed only in breeches and leather-soled sandals. His skin has that late-summer tan, and he's quite trim and wiry -- being an adventurer has a tendency to keep you in shape, usually. He wipes water from his face, then realizes he has an audience.

"Oh. Erm..." Tel blushes ever so slightly. "Afternoon Slix, Simony..."

The Goblin grins as Slixvah comes over. "Telamon is in the water, getting something.", she explains as the Egalrin steps up. "I'm doing alright, how're you, Slixvah?" Simony's hand points to the red cloth in the water. "Tel's coming from that direction."

She nods to Hieronymous. "That makes sense, a very smart thing to do."

The Gobbo gasps at the cresting of Telamon, giggling at the water pouring off of him. She doesn't wait for him to hit dry land, running to him and hugging at him, heedless of the wet. "Did you want a spell to boost your strength, Telamon? You could run back in and pull whatever it is out?" Simony is not shy in eyeing the tanned chest, grinning cheekily.

Slixvah bobs her head along. "Mmm. Yeah. Betta safe than sorr' fo' that sorta thing," she hums, her with her hands on her hips. A nod towards Simony. "I gathered as much fro' th' context. I'm... aight. Antsy." She's clad in just a simple brown vest and pants and nothing more. Except for those ribbons on her wings., they never go away.

Movement in the river gets her attention that way, and her brows raise up high. A reflexive, one-two whistle leaves her beak. "Lana Lan is lucky," she quips before giving an up-nod. "What's down at th' bottom of th' river?"

Telamon makes a playful 'oof' as he's hugged by Simony, and pats her head. "Easy there, Simony, let me dry off first!" Then he adds, "And give my report, these gents have been waiting."

He grins at Slixvah, before starting to use a cantrip to push the water off him. "You were right. The chest is down there, looks intact. But it's stuck in the mud. I tried some telekinesis, but I was afraid to put too much stress on it." He rubs his face, looking at the guards. "Your best bet would be to send some gents down with prybars -- either wargolems, or equipped with water-breathing magic -- to pop it loose from the mud, then drag it to shore."

As he turns, both Slixvah and Simony can see the bold tattoo across his back, gold and silver and blue drawing stars and sun and lines, a star chart to some other place.

Simony relents, the front of her robes having absorbed water from the dripping Half-Sil. "Oh, okay, sorry Telamon." Her head bobs, before she glances to Slixvah. Her voice lowers. "Anxious? Anything you would like to talk about? Later, obviously. But, if I could help ease your mind a little, I would happily do so."

"An intact chest. Yes indeed. I mean, that's interesting, what's it look like?", she wonders of Telamon. And then goes silent. A hand reaches into the bag on her hip, her notebook retrieved along with a pencil. It blurs as it moves across the page, Simony staring in silent fascination at the blue, silver and gold drawings and lines. "What is this language..?", she asks softly.

<OOC> Simony says, "Just to inform her potential guess at what the writing might be."
GAME: Simony rolls linguistics: (20)+9: 29

Slixvah snickers, both at the look and Simony's antics. "Or ya can ask a couple makari fo' a good trade. Theys can hold they breath fo' a long while. Shoo'. I can get it maybies."

She eyes the tattoo, her head quirking to the side in a bird like manner. "... ain't no sky I recognize," she murmurs before addressing Simony. ".. eh... tomorrow's gonna be a... busy day, lezz say."

Telamon pauses as he's about to put on his tunic, noticing Simony scribbling. Then he chuckles, and sits down so that she can sketch the elaborate design splayed across his back. "Heavy, ironbound, locked. It's a sea-chest, so it's sealed and protected from water." He glances at the guards, then shakes his head. "I'm not at liberty to discuss what's inside. Suffice to say the watch wants it back."

He runs his hands through his hair, the platinum locks drying out and settling again around his face as he puts on his circlet. "I had heard we're about to have some new neighbors. I'll try to come by if I can, Slix." He offers the egalrin witch a gentle smile. "Friends have to stick together, after all."

The guards move off at this point, evidently to go find some giantborn or makari divers with crowbars, as Tel glances back at Simony with a grin. "The words of Creation. What some call the Celestial tongue." He nods to Slix. "It's not. I have a suspicion as to what sky it -is- but I've no way to confirm it."

Simony's expression falls a little, and she pauses in her sketching to turn to hug at the Egalrin woman. "I will help also. I can find out what's going on along the way. When do you need us?" She smiles brightly then, stepping back to rock up and down on her toes.

The drawing work is quickly continued. "Makari are indeed perfect for this sort of job. And a shame, it'd be neat to know what is in the chest. But I can suffer gracefully and never know." Simony snorts, grinning at Telamon. She blinks, as if something had just occurred to her.

"The view from the Watcher's home?!", she whispers excitedly.

Ravenstongue has arrived.

Slixvah gives a nod-nod. "Ain't gon' ask no mo' questions," she holds up her hands before letting them drop to her sides. The attention of tomorrow gets her to shift on her feet, the bodacious egalrin looking uncharacteristically nervous. But, appreciation shows through in her tone. "Yeah. Th' Aerie's movin' in. Fam too. Any help would be appreciated. I'll... be there. Theys supposed ta be there tomorrow sometime. Dunno when, maybe afternoon." Her attention draws off to nothing, whatever it is drawing her anxiety elsewhere.

A half hearted wave is given to the guards before she shakes her head, brows raised high. "... oh tha's prett' coo'," she coos in regards to the tattoo. "I love stuff like tha'.

Telamon regards Slixvah with a touch of concern, and gestures for her to come sit down. "Do you want to talk about it?" he says gently. "We're your friends, and it's not like we're going to think less of you for unburdening yourself. Why not sit a bit and get some of that weight off your shoulders?"

He grins back at Simony. "That's my guess. Though, obviously, I can't confirm it. My life has been tangled up with the Watcher's for a while... but thankfully for the betterment of myself and others."

"I would be pleased to help out!", the Gobbo announces cheerfully to the others. "Can you tell me if there's anything that is really needed, food-wise? I am not sure what sort of diet you and your family have, and I don't want to assume something that may be harmful. Or maybe there's something that's particularly prized, which would make for some good comfort food, hmm?" She nods at what Telamon says, "Yes, friends, and willing to help carry some of your burden."

Simony's expression takes on a far away look. "I'll have to think back on what I saw while I was there, Telamon. Maybe I can give you confirmation?"

Something's fluttering in the sky.

Except it turns out to be a person, soaring down with waves of dark hair and the fine lilac-colored dress she wears whipping wildly around her on wings of violet-blue, conjured of magic. She offers the group a little wave as she reorients herself, swooping from her falcon-like dive to become upright in the air. Her wings give a gentle beat, and Cor'lana Lupecyll-Atlon lands next to Telamon, going in to kiss him on the cheek before her feet touch the ground.

"Hello all," Cor'lana greets with mirth in her violet eyes. "I see my husband's been spelunking in the Tornmawr again."

Slixvah glances to Telamon, her pulling a wing over and preening a few feathers. Almost like a nervous tick. "Let's just say Eglarin politics involve a lot of stuff, and being long lived we are, things tha' happened years ago feel like they happened not very long ago," she explains. "I...-" a sigh escapes her, and she rubs her face. "... I jus' gotta stop bein' a lil' bitch and pull the bandage off. Don't worry, I'm just over analyzing it."

She looks to Simony before shrugging. "Biltong's a fun treat, but takes too long to make. Honestly, Simony gal, jus' water and stuff tha's easy ta eat. They've been on th' road for months. And healers."

She cranes her head to look up at the sky, idly thinking of the constellations above. But she spies someone coming down, a wing giving a wave to them. "Neat trick," she coos, ruffling her wings to bring attention to Lana's. "Heya Lana. Yeah, splunking."

Telamon instantly slides his arm around Lana, hugging her to him and he turns to kiss her in return. "Hey love. Yes, this was that job Corporal Smithson came by the Chalice to ask me about." He rubs his chin. "People need to not throw things in the Tornmawr anyways. It's nasty. And in this case, it was a big chest that the Watch would like to get out. Sadly, it's stuck in the mud; I tried telekinesis but it wouldn't pop free, and I didn't want to damage it. So they're probably off to go find some large muscular makari or jotunn with crowbars."

Tel smiles at Simony, and nods. "I might try bringing some things as well. Alchemical remedies, a few odds and ends." His eyes twinkle. "Letters of introduction. You'd be surprised how many doors open these days with the right recommendation. But whatever help you can muster is good, Simony."

His gaze is sympathetic as he looks at Slixvah. "Well, Slixvah," he says, "I think you've been a loyal friend and a good example. If someone wants to offer an impertinence to you, you have quite a few friends who would be happy to champion you."

Simony's expression brightens at the swooping arrival of Cor'lana, and she awwws at the kiss. Nodding, she giggles. "Bobbing for sunken treasure chests. He found it!" She holds up the sketch of Telamon's tattoo. "And I was lucky to be able to sketch his tattoo. Such a unique mark. To think it matches the sky of another world, perhaps, that is amazing."

She looks to the Egalrin, the Goblin nodding. "Water you shall have. Stew and fresh bread. And I will rouse the the clerics to action. It will not do to have new neighbours be in a bad way." She lets out a little sigh. "I will speak to the Korites and Angorites. They will out compete themselves to assist."

"And I shall ensure some.. biltong will be ready as soon as possible. Er, what's biltong?"

Simony nods then, "I will do what I can. I may stop by the Temples on the way home, Altheans will come bearing what is needed."

Cor'lana smiles brightly at the sketch of Telamon's tattoo. "It's a beautiful mark," she says, "much like all of him. Down to the parts of him that only I know, better than him, for we do not understand ourselves as well as others who love us can see us. He knows me better than I know myself."

Her arm wraps around Telamon's and she peers at Slixvah. "Now, I heard bits and pieces from the telepathic bond, but I was focused on my flight and what I took away from singing lessons today--is something the matter? Something that I might perhaps be of aid in? Although I imagine Telamon's offered, I'd love to help too."

Slixvah is quiet for a spell, her looking at Telamon before shifting her attention back to the river and its eddies. Her beak opens, clacks closed, then partially opens to a wistful smile. "I appreciate ya kindness. I won' stop ya if ya wanna spread th' good word. Though, fo' most people. Most people fear what they cannot understand, ya dig?"

"Anything you can offer is more than enough. They's ain't got nothin'," she says with a heavy heart. "Biltong's like jerky, but aired out ova stretches of air. It's a literal fly-by snack. Kinda hard ta make here."

She looks to Cor'lana, a cheeky smile crossing her eyes. "Yeah. Otha' folk know bits and pieces of ya that ya ain't eva think 'bout." Her smile falters a little bit. "My Aerie's comin' ta th' Hayatiento Aerie jus' ta th' north on the Redridge. Refugees. Help movin' in, food, medicine, healin', entertainin' kids. The like."

Telamon's eyes flash. "Then they should strive to understand, so they aren't ruled by the fear." He takes a deep breath, something flickering in his starry gaze, before he forces himself to smile again. "I'll do whatever I can, Slix. I don't like it when friends go through rough patches."

Pushing his mind onto the problem, Tel nods. "Starting over is hard, but where there's life, there's hope." He smiles at Cor'lana, the two fitting together like pieces of a puzzle. "We'll find a way to help out."

At Simony's question, Tel grins. "Like Slix says, it's like jerky but it's air dried. The egalrin call it sirrana, and they invented the technique, though it's spread out a bit. Oruch in particular love the stuff -- they make it as well. Usually they use a drying box." He hmms. "There's a butcher and meat-merchant in town who's had some before. I'll see if I can get you some to try out, Simony."

Simony's eyes widen and widen as Cor'lana speaks of 'knowing' Telamon, and reaches up to pull her hood up, ensuring her ears and face are obscured. "Y.y.yes, beautiful things unknown to all but yourselves."

Her hood shifts towards Slixvah, her face barely seen. "You... you make it in the air? Whoa. That I did not know, that's very neat!" Her voice drops. "I'm sorry. I feel for them having lost everything. We will get them settled and back into the air, you'll see!"

The Gobbo's attention turns to Telamon. "Where, Telamon? I buy up their stock, if they have any, and commission more. It might not be much, but a little taste of home, a surprise bit of comfort food, goes a long way."

"I'd love to assist in any way," Cor'lana replies gently to Slixvah. "I'm not much of aid in anything that isn't entertainment--but I can be of some small aid to those who need light and laughter and movement in their hearts. I was one of those children once." Her voice turns soft and sympathetic.

Her violet eyes, which glow subtly in their own way, dart at Simony retreating into her hood, and then she looks embarrassed on her own behalf, a mild blush finding her cheeks as well. "I, ah, I meant that he knows the deepest parts of my heart, and I him--not... something that really ought to be saved for one of those dreadful Crimson Pen novels."

She shakes her head. "I've never had the opportunity to try the meat," she says. "None that I can recall. Perhaps Pothy has."

"You tell a buncha gabby Elders tha' and see how far that gets ya," Slix quips before idly kicking a rock. "I appreciate it." She looks to Telamon, nodding at the mention of the snacks and confirming the translation. "It's pretty nice, get it on the down slope from bein' up high in the Aerie. Easy snack, hangs from ropes."

The reassurances abate some of her worries as she quietly laughs. "Please, please, I'll be fine. I just need to get over it. I'm still young and learning." A sigh escapes her, and she looks off to the mountains to the east. "Th' kids could use it. And probably would fawn ova seein' sil-touched folks. They ain't have much cultural experience outside Khzad. Heck, they Trade is probably /pretty/ rough. So.." she rolls a hand.

There's just a snort at the mention of certain red novels.

Telamon reaches up to lightly touch his brow. "Phrasing, Lana," he says gently with a grin. But he softens it with a kiss to her cheek, before continuing, "But yes. Part of love and marriage, we've found, is learning what makes the other tick. It's not alwaye easy, but it -is- rewarding."

He tilts his head at Slixvah, brows arching. "Hm. Well, meeting some of the sil -- even if we're half-sil -- should be quite the experience for them. I've never spent time among the aeries, myself, so I'll be learning something new as well." Tel shrugs lightly. "That's always a good thing."

He smiles at Simony. "Arguth's down at the edge of the upper trades. He handles a lot of Granaulg's poultry output, and it's made him very well off. Seems the noble quarter really likes a roasted chicken big enough for a goblin to climb inside."

The Goblin /is/ trying to hide a blush, and a little giggle escapes her. "I understand, it's just easy to take things out of context. You are lucky, so lucky, and I am happy for you two. It's been a pleasure to see the little things that you let slip. A look here, a light touch there. I could paint it better than I could ever put it to words."

A beat. "You should definitely try the meat."

Looking to Slixvah, Simony shrugs her shoulders. "You are part of their support network now. If you've done something to be scolded or chided for, okay. But I would offer to let them know that they should not be mean to the person who's arranged food, aid and entertainment. That person being you. I will make sure they know you're well thought of. I... I'll also not say a word at all, if that is what you wish. But it will be hard hearing someone speak ill of you, you know?"

She lets out a low breath, turning to Telamon once more. "Arguth's you say? I think I know of it, thank you, I will go and look. Much appreciated, Telamon." She blinks a few times, her expression quizzical. "You tallfolk have the weirdest way to measure things. I would never think, "Gosh that chicken is big enough to fit a human head in...", for example."

"Should I bring Pothy, I wonder," Cor'lana thinks for a moment, eyeing Telamon as though to get his opinion. "I think... no. Probably for the best. He's been enjoying having Grandfather visit anyway."

As Cor'lana leans in a little into Telamon, she frowns at the conversation regarding Slixvah and the Elders. The violet eyes get a flint little glint as a result. "I'm with Simony here," she says. "I don't want anyone to belittle or besmirch you. I can behave and focus solely on the children, but if someone were to denigrate a friend..."

Her mouth presses into a thin line. She shakes her head. "I should not say what I would do lest they become reality," she says.

Slixvah snickers, shaking her head slowly as she shifts to her back foot. "Certainly can be rewarding. But yeah, a good thing, lot ta learn between th' people. Hopefully Hayatiento birds can help acclimate them."

The eglarin takes the information about Arguth get filed away as she looks down to Simony, then to Cor'lana. "Girls, I reall' appreciate ya'll will ta break a wing fo' me, but, chill," she chuffs. "Ceiwen lets th' wind wander where it may. If th' winds bring good words ta combat the bad, then let it be so. Don't over think it. Kill 'em with kindness instead."

Telamon nods, though his expression is still annoyed. "This is not something that will be solved by bludgeoning miscreants into submission, I think. It may call for a lighter touch." His eyes twinkle as he looks at Lana. "But I know your wrath is just as ferocious as mine when it comes to friends and wrongs." He gives her a squeeze, before -- finally -- putting his tunic back on.

At the mention of acclimatization, Tel ponders. "Was your original aerie somewhat isolated then, Slix? Not a lot of visitors, aside from the khazad traders you mentioned? Being in Alexandros is going to be a whole new experience for them in general, I think."

Simony sniffles, a sleeved hand rising to her eyes. "Fine, Slixvah. For every discouraging word spoken, I will put two beautiful words in their place, just for you. I am no poet. But if you ever need a book copied, that's right up my alley."

She stumbles forward to hug at the Egalrin once more. "For now, I must bid you all a good eve, and take my leave to run off to the Temples and then home. It was a pleasure to see you both, Cor'lana and Telamon, as well you, Slixvah."

A squeeze, and then she hugs Telamon and Cor'lana in turn, before making to leave.

Cor'lana gives Simony a hug farewell in turn, grinning as she looks back to Slixvah and Telamon. "Bludgeoning? No no no. Not what I do. I meant that I'd use my Theatre District connections and make them all watch the most horrible show I can manage to find tickets for. What's that new Handel Boyd Weaver stinker? Love Never Tries? He should have never tried to write a sequel to Phantasm of the Choir."

She looks up at Telamon. "We should probably be along our way too, yes?" she asks. "You and I have some errands to attend to."

Slix snaps a finger towards Telamon. Exactly what she was thinking. "Exactin' wrongs wit' more wrongs will jus' make it harder." She turns to face the trio. "Mmm. The Sliabhgeiko- das where I'm from- is- er was, kinda a big Aerie. Not as big as the Hayatiento. But had 'bout sixty families. Two thirds that gonna show up tomorrow. They are pretty will used ta dealin' wit' Khazad. But /just/ Khazad and other Aeries on occasion. So this here will be a bit of a culture shock ta them. They can haggle like no other tho'. Coin in Aeries ain't worth much, so, yeah. They're gonna have ta bite a /big/ arrow chomping down they pride for accepting help."

Slix looks down to Simony, her expression softening as she leans down to hug the little priestess with arm and wing. "Sweet of ya. Catch ya on th' flip."

She shifts to Cor'lana. If she could sweat, there'd be a drop going down her face. So instead a feather breaks off and floats down the air. "... please don't make my people endure such torture," she feigns fear. "... but make them watch one fo' good measure. Especially Felines. /Especially/ Felines."

She looks up to the sky, noting something or another as she raises a hand. A tiny, white plumed thrush flutters down to her finger, before being abruptly shoved into a vest pocket. "I got a lotta prep ta do. Catch you two lovlies later. And... thank you for ya support." Large wings unfurl, rainbow ribbons mixing and mingling before a powerful beat blasts her to the skies. Soon she turns to a speck, and said speck drifts to the north east.

Telamon of course has to give Simony a farewell hug, before snorting at Cor'lana. "Oh, you thought that was bad? Turow got his hands on a theater script called 'Ranos: The Hands of Destiny' and it has to be seen to be believed, love. We were doing readings of it at the last Chalice meeting and Stiger was laughing so hard he was -crying-."

He offers Slixvah a smile, and waves as she departs, before turning to Lana. "Indeed we do." He pulls on his boots, before offering his wife his arm. "Let's be about it, then."